History 

of 

The  W  oman  s  section 

of  the 

Commission    for  Relief  in  Belgium 


Executive  Offices : 
One  Madison  Ave.,  New  York 


The  Woman's  Section 


of 

The  Commission  for   Relief  in  Belgium 

Under  the  August  Patronage  of 
Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  the  Belgians 
and 

H.  R.  H.  The  Duchess  of  Vendome 

Message  from  Her  Majesty  The  Queen  ot  the  Belgians  to  the 
Woman's  Section  of  the  American  Commission 
for  Relief  in  Belgium 

Headquarters    Belgian  Army 

November  29,  1914. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  accept  the  invitation  which 
has  been  transmitted  to  me  to  become  Patroness  of  the 
Woman's  Section  of  the  American  Commission  for  Relief 
in  Belgium. 

I  wish  to  extend  to  the  women  of  America  the  deep 
gratitude  of  the  women  of  Belgium  for  the  work  which  they 
are  doing  for  my  people.  The  food  which  your  Country  is 
daily  providing  to  our  women  and  children  comes  like  a  ray 
of  sunshine  in  the  darkest  hour  of  Belgium's  history. 

The  Belgian  women  have  fought  a  brave  fight  for  the 
common  cause  of  human  liberty,  so  dear  to  every  Amer- 
ican woman's  heart. 

ELISABETH. 

Message  from  H.  R  H.  The  Duchess  of  Vendome 

I  gladly  accept  your  invitation  to  become  Patroness  of 
the  Woman's  Section  of  the  American  Commission  for 
Relief  in  Belgium. 

I  know  that  I  speak  for  every  Belgian  woman  and  every 
Belgian  child  when  I  say  that  we  thank  God  for  what  you 
are  doing.  Now  that  the  extremity  of  our  distress  is  be- 
coming known,  we  feel  sure  the  tender  hearts  of  the  women 
of  America  will  respond  to  our  cry. 

Food  is  terribly  needed  by  millions  of  my  brave  Brother's 
unhappy  subjects  who  still  remain  in  their  native  land.  Be- 
fore winter  is  over  the  need  will  become  more  desperate. 
In  the  name  of  the  suffering  women  and  little  children  of 
Belgium,  I  ask  the  women  of  America  to  help  us. 

HENRIETTE,  Duchess  of  Vendome, 

Princess  of  Beleium. 


Dessin  de  J.  SIMONT.  Reproduced  from  L'lllustration  No.  3739. 

Elisabeth,  Reine  des  Beiges 


"Kile  est  la-bas,  avec  le  roi  Albert,  au  milieu  des 
troupes  qui  combattent.  Elle  est  venue  de  ville  en 
ville,  de  camp  en  camp,  de  trancbee  en  trancbee.  Elle 
console  de  vivre  et  console  de  mourir ;  elle  sourit, 
elle  panse  des  blessures.  Elle  est  toute  la  douceur  et  > 
toute  la  pitie  dans  ce  pays  de  Flandre  ou  la  brume 
lourde  envellope  le  paysage  triste,  linceul  de  grisaille 
sur  tant  et  tant  de  linceuls  de  lin.  *  *  *  Reine 
errante,  mais  reine  comme  ne  le  fut  jamais  l'epouse 
du  roi  le  plus  puissant,  elle  symbolise  toute  la  patrie 
meurtrie  et  qui  ne  veut  pas  mourir.  Lcin  des  cites 
orgueilleuses  et  des  palais  somptueux,  elle  va  vers  les 
soldats  tombes  sous  la  mitraille  et  quand  elle  passe 
pres  d'eux,  les  paupieres  des  agonisants  se  soulevent, 
pour  un  dernier  regard,  une  derniere  larme."  *  *  * 
— Roland  de  Mares  {Le  Temps). 

She  is  over  there  with  King  Albert  in  the  midst  of 
the  fighting  troops.  From  town  to  town,  from  camp  | 
to  camp,  from  trench  to  trench  she  goes.  She  in- 
spires the  living,  she  consoles  the  dying;  she  smiles 
upon  them,  she  binds  up  their  wounds.  There  she  is, 
so  gentle,  so  pitying,  in  that  Flemish  land,  that  sad 
country  wrapped  in  heavy  mist,  a  gray  winding  sheet 
softly  falling  over  so  many  rigid  shrouds.  Queen 
errant,  but  more  a  Queen  than  ever  has  been  the 
consort  of  the  most  puissant  King,  she  symbolizes  ' 
her  country,  that  country  which  is  so  gashed  and 
wounded,  but  which  will  not  die.  Far  from  proud 
cities  and  sumptuous  palaces  she  goes  to  the  soldiers 
fallen  beneath  the  leaden  rain,  and  as  she  passes  near  * 
them  the  eyes  of  the  dying  are  lifted  up  to  her  for  a 
last  look,  a  last  tear.  *  *  *  — Roland  de  Mares 
{Le  Temps). 


4 


APPEAL 


"For  I  was  an  hungered  and  ye  gave  me  meat." 

Never  before  in  civilized  history  has  a  whole  na- 
tion faced  famine.  If  in  Begium  over  six  million 
people,  men,  women  and  children,  are  to  be  kept 
alive,  food  must  be  sent,  and  at  once. 

The  American  Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium 
is  internationally  constituted.  It  has  relation  to  six 
Powers — Belgium,  France,  Holland,  England,  Ger- 
many and  America.  We,  its  Woman's  Section,  make 
appeal  to  all  the  women  of  America  to  come  to  the 
rescue  of  a  starving  people.  The  highest  aspirations 
and  the  finest  achievements  of  the  race  are  sym- 
bolized in  this  little  country.  The  Belgians  must 
be  saved  to  the  human  family.  We  ask  American 
women  to  recall  and  deserve  anew  the  immortal 
tribute  they  won  from  our  great  Lincoln,  and  to  here 
highly  resolve  that  this  people,  under  God,  shall  not 
perish  from  the  earth. 

We  sent  forth  to  organizations,  International,  Na- 
tional and  State,  a  request  that  they  stand  with  us 
to  spread  the  saving  call.  Between  November  10th 
and  December  10th  there  rallied  to  us  the  presi- 
dents of  organizations  representing  collectively  over 
six  million  women.  To  those  not  yet  with  us,  we  say 
come,  that  unitedly  we  may  help  in  working  out  sal- 
vation for  the  famine-menaced  Belgians. 


5 


Many  Governors,  in  co-operation  with  the  Com- 
mission, have  appointed  Relief  Committees.  Other 
groups,  similarly,  are  co-operating  with  it  and  its 
Woman's  Section.  We  ask  that  the  efforts  of  these, 
our  allies,  be  supported  in  the  States  where  they 
exist.  The  influence  and  momentum  of  organizations 
can  be  best  exerted  at  the  source,  in  the  home  towns, 
and  we  are  striving  for  the  greatest  efficiency  and 
economy.  Where  one  dollar  can  represent  a  day's 
life  for  thirty  people,  we  wish  every  dollar  to  fill  its 
fullest  service.  We  request  State  Committees  and 
Local  Organizations,  until  the  Commission's  official 
State  Committee  has  been  organized,  to  co-operate 
directly  with  the  Woman's  Section.  In  the  united 
name  of  all  our  collective  womanhood,  we  beg  for 
the  lives  of  the  Belgians.   We  ask  for  food. 

The  workmen  in  New  York  consume  an  average 
of  forty  ounces  a  day  per  man.  The  Commission  has 
named  a  minimum  for  keeping  the  life  spark  aflame, 
an  average  of  ten  ounces  a  day  per  person,  man, 
woman  or  child.  America,  the  greatest  country 
standing  outside  the  circle  of  war,  will  surely,  in 
this  banner  year  of  her  harvests,  give  to  the  famish- 
ing dependent  upon  her  bounty. 

Will  you  help  us  to  save  The  Little  Sister  of  the 
World  ? 


6 


The  Woman's  Section 
of 

The  Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium 

November  1,  1914,  the  following  cable  letter  was 
received  in  New  York  City: 

London,  November   ist,  1914- 
Mrs.  Lindon  Bates,  784  5th  Ave.,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

"The  American  Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium  which 
has  been  set  up  officially  by  the  American  Ambassadors  to 
execute  their  International  agreements  for  the  provisioning 
of  Belgium  and  which  embraces  American  Ambassadors  as 
Honorary  Chairman,  the  American  Consuls  and  American 
residents  of  England  and  Belgium  as  members,  would  like  to 
have  you  undertake  the  formation  of  a  great  group  of 
American  women  who  would  support  us  in  securing  food  or 
money  for  the  Belgian  people.  It  is  certain  that  the  entire 
population  of  seven  millions  are  on  the  verge  of  famine  and 
that  eighty  thousand  tons  of  cereals  per  month  is  the  abso- 
lute minimum  upon  which  body  and  soul  can  be  kept  to- 
gether, and  this  provides  a  ration  of  but  ten  ounces  per 
capita  per  diem.  The  situation  is  one  of  gravest  gravity. 
We  have  sent  an  appeal  to  the  American  press  to  open 
subscriptions  for  our  purposes,  all  of  which  subscriptions  we 
want  translated  into  actual  foodstuffs  from  the  United  States. 
We  would  be  grateful  for  the  help  of  yourself  and  all  those 
women  who  rightly  should  come  to  your  support." 

(Signed)    Herbert  Hoover, 

Chairman. 

To  this  Mrs.  Bates  replied : 
Herbert  Hoover,  Esq., 

1   London  Wall  Building,  London. 

"The  official  invitation  of  the  American  Commission  for 
Relief  in  Belgium  received.  I  accept  with  a  deep  sense  of 
responsibility.  I  am  forming  a  representative  committee 
which  will  do  its  uttermost  to  enlist  co-operation  from 
American  women." 

(Signed)        MRS.  LINDON  BATES. 

November  ist,  1914. 

The  Committee  was  organized  as  follows  : 

Mrs.  Lindon  Bates,  Chairman. 

Miss  Anne  Morgan,  Treasurer. 

Mrs.  August  Belmont. 

Mrs.  Edward  R.  Hewitt. 

Miss  Mary  Parsons. 

Mrs.  William  K.  Vanderbilt. 

Miss  Maude  Wetmore. 

7 


THE  WO  MAN' S  SECTION 


November  10th  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
the  Women's  Section  was  held  after  an  informal 
luncheon  at  the  Colony  Club.  The  plan  of  organi- 
zation was  set  forth  by  the  Chairman  and  adopted. 
In  outline  it  was  this:  The  Leaders  of  the  great 
organizations  of  women,  International  and  National, 
were  to  be  asked  upon  an  Executive  Co-operating 
Committee  to  stand  with  the  Board  of  Seven.  In 
their  collective  name  an  appeal  was  to  be  issued  for 
the  rescue  of  the  famine-menaced  Belgians.  Their 
collective  help  was  to  be  asked  in  making  the  appeal 
effective. 

The  obstacles  in  the  way  of  realizing  the  plan  were 
fully  weighed.  National  organizations  are  conserva- 
tive. Officers  are  reluctant  to  commit  themselves 
officially  to  any  cause.  They  are  rightly  conserva- 
tive. When  a  parent  federation  embraces  a  move- 
ment, its  constituents  feel  morally  obligated  to  fol- 
low and  to  work  for  the  same  goal.  In  all  bodies 
there  is  diversity  of  opinion  and  interests.  Further, 
in  this  year  of  dreadful  night  the  war  had  early 
called  for  activity  in  behalf  of  the  Red  Cross  and 
of  a  dozen  other  specialized  reliefs.  All  groups  of 
women  had,  since  mid-summer,  been  rallying  help 
for  these  movements.  The  Presidents  would  be  re- 
luctant to  ask  their  women  to  unite  again  and  center 
upon  one  relief.  Further,  National  Leaders  have 
worked  upward  to  their  places  through  a  long  dis- 
cipline in  organization-methods  and  limitations.  They 
act  only  when  certain  of  the  support  of  their  Boards. 
The  latter  cannot  always  be  got  together  rapidly, 
and  if  assembled  may  not  be  willing  to  commit  the 
parent  organization  till  the  constituents  have  ex- 
pressed their  willingness  to  follow. 

All  these  facts  had  been  considered  by  the  Wom- 
an's Section,  yet  it  moved  to  its  plan  in  a  strong 
faith  that  the  tragedy  of  Belgium  could  be  set  in 
such  a  light  that  the  great  International  and  Na- 

8 


THE  WOMAN'  S  SECTION 


tional  Organizations  of  Women  would  line  up  to 
work  for  its  deliverance. 

Nothing  that  has  ever  been  attempted  in  America 
gives  such  a  testimonial  to  the  meaning,  power  and 
future  of  the  Woman  Movement  as  this  rally.  In 
the  month  between  November  10th  and  December 
10th,  there  had  been  drawn,  and  were  standing  to- 
gether, the  Presidents  of  International  and  National 
Organizations  representing  collectively  over  five  and 
a  half  million  women. 

The  plan  did  not  contemplate  asking  all  National 
Organizations.  The  Woman's  Section  would  have 
been  gratified  in  having  all,  for  each  organization 
added  to  its  strength,  but  its  cause  of  being  was 
food,  its  office  was  to  save  the  life  of  the  famishing. 
It  was  seeking  hurriedly  only  a  sufficiently  repre- 
sentative voice  to  warrant  going  before  the  country 
with  a  great  appeal.  It  planned  for  the  same  reason 
to  invite  individually,  only  one  State  body — the  Fed- 
eration of  Clubs.  The  reason  for  this  should  be  de- 
tailed. 

A  movement  for  saving  seven  millions  of  people 
standing  on  the  brink  of  death  had  manifestly  to 
avail  itself  of  channels  already  existing.  It  had  to 
take  the  lines  of  least  resistance.  Several  of  its 
strongest  and  most  precious  National  Allies  were 
specialized  groups— like  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  By  reason 
of  their  specialized  reformatory  nature,  they  were 
less  able  to  rally  the  diversified  forces  of  a  State 
than  the  more  broadly  representative  group  of  the 
Federated  Clubs.  The  latter  were  therefore  asked 
separately. 

The  Section  had  not  purposed  asking  any  city 
organizations.  Here,  too,  of  course,  it  would  have 
been  overjoyed  at  the  co-operation  of  them  all,  but 
their  numbers  were  legion,  and,  as  in  the  States, 
urgency  limited  the  Section  to  a  reasonable  volume 
only  of  support. 


9 


THE  WOMAN'  S  SECTION 


One  city  organization  is  enrolled  because  the 
Woman's  Section  was  unreconciled  to  issuing  a  call 
in  the  name  of  so  many  women  with  no  official  rep- 
resentation of  the  group  whose  name  was  a  symbol 
of  its  mission  of  mercy. 

On  the  Executive  Committee  one  National  is  not 
enrolled  which  the  Woman's  Section  counts  none  the 
less  in  the  spirit.  No  group  asked  was  more  warmly 
responsive  and  more  longing  than  the  officers  of  the 
National  that  is  not  with  us — the  Women's  Trade 
Union  League.  They  did  not  wish  to  stand  in  name 
when  they  could  not  materially  contribute,  and  in 
this  year  of  great  unemployment  their  funds  were 
drained.  The  Colorado  strike  had  also  thrown  upon 
the  National  the  provision  for  many  unwonted  bur- 
dens. Their  women  were  all  of  the  laboring  class — 
heavy-laden  in  the  war's  reaction  here.  Their  Offi- 
cers did  not  feel  that  they  could  ask  these  toilers  to 
lift  also  on  the  tragedy  of  Belgium.  The  Woman's 
Section  agreed,  and  gratefully  thanked  them  for  the 
beautiful  comradeship  and  sympathy  which  were 
their  contribution.  When  the  roll  is  called  of  our 
Nationals,  there  is  one  of  which  we  say,  "Absent 
but  not  missing." 

The  two  most  important  movements  of  the  century 
are  the  organizing  of  labor  and  the  organizing  of 
women— both  are  at  root  allied.  Counting  the  Fed- 
erations of  Clubs,  and  not  including  separately  the 
Council  of  Jewish  Women,  one  Suffrage,  and  the 
Anti  group,  the  organizations  co-operating  with  the 
Woman's  Section  December  30,  1914,  represented  over 
six  million.  That  in  seven  weeks  there  could  be 
rallied  to  any  cause  leaders  of  such  numbers  of 
women,  must  speak  volumes  to  those  who  have  ears 
to  hear. 

The  Woman's  Section  is  but  a  temporary  creation, 
born  of  the  catastrophe  of  a  people,  but  within  the 
coming  months  the  largest  National  organizations  in 


in 


THE  WO  MAN' S  SECTION 


America  are  to  be  federated  and  welded  permanently. 
At  the  moving  of  one  lever  organized  women  to  the 
number  of  five  million  will  be  officially  aligned  to  act 
unitedly — there  are  some  things  hopeful  for  the  fu- 
ture. 

To  the  winning  of  the  largest  goal  the  Woman's 
Section  will  have  helped  mightily.  Not  alone  has  it 
gathered  to  its  bosom  the  greatest  number  of  Inter- 
national and  National  organizations  ever  standing 
together  in  any  cause,  but  it  has  drawn  several  of 
the  ultra-conservative  groups,  chary  of  affiliations. 
These  and  the  detached  clubs  and  the  unorganized 
groups  are  all  coming  together  into  working  "relief 
committees."  Those  less  social  will  grow  used  to 
collective  activity.  They  will  feel  the  warmth  of  the 
community  spirit — the  strength  of  the  community 
will.  Later,  they  will  be  found,  we  hope,  united  in 
the  "Council  of  National  Organizations  of  Women." 

The  spirit  in  which  these  tried,  restrained  women 
came  should  win  for  them  a  place  in  grateful  mem- 
ory. The  President  of  the  Council  of  Women,  the 
largest  of  the  Nationals,  was  traveling  and  speaking 
in  the  West.  For  a  week  the  Chairman's  letters 
and  wires  trailed  without  reaching  her.  Meanwhile 
the  President  saw  in  a  local  journal  confirmation  of 
the  appalling  conditions  of  the  starving  Belgians. 
She  read  of  the  Woman's  Section,  its  mission,  its 
proposed  system  under  the  chairmanship  of  a  com- 
rade in  organization.  Knowing  that  hers  would 
probably  be  the  first  National  asked,  she  moved  at 
once.  Arranging  her  authorization,  the  President  of 
the  Council  of  Women  sent  to  the  Chairman  her 
moving  acceptance  of  co-operation.  "Use  us  for 
Belgium  !"  This  first  hand  reached  to  the  Woman's 
Section  was  surely  both  hospitable  and  inspiring. 

Another  leader  written  to  at  headquarters  was 
traveling  and  speaking  through  the  South.  Her  Sec- 
retary took  the  matter  up  with  the  Officers  and 


11 


THE  WOMAN' S  SECTION 


started  a  wire  on  the  trail  of  the  President.  This 
Chief  sent  duly  a  message  which  has  thrilled  along 
our  whole  movement  and  has  roused  like  a  bugle 
call— "300,000  White  Ribboners  will  stand  with  the 
Woman's  Section."  They  have  been  as  good  as  their 
word,  these  White  Ribboners.  The  contributions 
have  been  everywhere  disproportionately  large  from 
the  W.  C.  T.  U. 

Other  smaller  groups  have  come  in  the  same  heart- 
stirring  way.  From  Georgia  we  received  the  fol- 
lowing message :  "Count  on  our  twenty-five  thou- 
sand Georgia  club-women  for  your  work,"  and  from 
Texas,  "Fifteen  thousand  Texas  club-women  will 
co-operate  with  the  nation-wide  efforts  to  save 
famine-stricken  Belgium." 

Each  leader  who  has  come  has  brought  a  definite 
note  in  her  acceptance,  and  has  made  her  own  place 
in  the  gratitude  of  the  Section.  The  Suffrage 
groups !  How  much  has  been  said  of  the  flinty 
hearts  they  had  developed  and  their  obduracy  to  all 
appeals  till  the  vote  was  won !  As  though  a  woman 
would  ever  be  anything  but  a  women  when  the  hu- 
man was  agonized !  Without  any  reservations  and 
in  most  gracious  and  helpful  sympathy  came  both 
Suffrage  Presidents.  If  the  Woman's  Section  has 
done  nothing  else,  it  has  shown  to  America  that  our 
Suffrage  sisters  have  not  been  unsexed ;  that  they  i 
are  still  in  the  old  sense  gentle-women !  The  Antis 
joined  the  effort  for  Belgium  just  as  unswervingly. 
Their  President  took  counsel  with  the  Chairman  as 
to  where  her  groups  were  strongest,  and  wrote  per- 
sonally, asking  her  lieutenants  to  move  their  forces 
in  behalf  of  Belgium. 

The  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution, 
stately,  formal,  in  executive  session  passed  unani- 
mously a  vote  to  sustain  this  movement.  Their  Presi- 
dent called  upon  her  States  to  assist,  and  loyally 


1? 


THE  WOMAN'S  SECTION 


they  have  aided.  The  Council  of  Jewish  Womer 
voted  also  unanimously  in  their  National  Board,  t( 
support  the  cause  of  the  Belgians.  Their  women 
philanthropic  and  open-hearted  always,  have  beer 
generous  friends  in  this  crisis. 

The  college  group  was  approached  at  first  with 
some  misgiving.  They  are  not  of  the  gregarious 
temperament.  They  move  slowly  after  judicial 
analysis,  and  are  wary  of  emotional  causes.  But  both 
Collegiate  Nationals  came.  Indeed,  in  Ohio,  the 
first  Belgian  Relief  Committee  organized  under  the 
Woman's  Section  was  rallied  by  the  President  of 
the  National  Federation  of  College  Women.  She 
gathered  her  people,  started  collecting  food  and 
money,  and  sent  a  hurry  call  for  literature. 

A  Needlework  Guild  had  established  in  Lyons, 
France,  eight  ouvroirs  where,  the  material  being  sup- 
plied, unemployed  girls  were  given  temporary  work 
making  women's  and  children's  garments.  The  Bel- 
gian refugees  in  their  district  are  very  numerous. 
The  Belgian  mothers  and  babies  are  given  a  whole- 
some meal  and  are  clad  in  these  warm  garments, 
thus  tiding  over  the  awful  winter.  Two  additional 
workshops  are  being  opened.  This  movement  was 
brought  into  co-operation  with  the  Section. 

One  of  the  first  alliances  sought  was  that  of  the 
Catholics.  The  Belgians  and  their  Queen  are  Catho- 
lics, and  it  seemed  eminently  fitting  that  in  the  rescue 
of  the  country  people  their  co-religionists  should 
have  a  vital  place.  But  this  group  works  chiefly 
alone  and  is  reluctant  to  join  movements.  However, 
the  "Conference  of  Catholic  Charities"  came  in  Janu- 
ary to  stand  as  the  twenty-first  National  Organiza- 
tion upon  the  Executive  Co-operation  Committee  of 
the  Woman's  Section. 

Having  secured  a  collective  voice  of  appeal,  the 
Section  occupied  itself  next  with  organizing  the 
States  for  detailed  work.   Here  was  where  the  Fed- 


13 


THE  WOMAN' S  SECTION 


eration  of  Women's  Clubs  was  so  serviceable.  Since 
the  effort  to  save  the  Belgians  was  undertaken 
through  organizations,  and  the  "Federation"  was  the 
most  representative  group  in  each  State,  the  Sec- 
tion invited  the  President  in  as  many  States  as  it 
had  their  co-operation  to  accept  its  chairmanship. 
Of  twenty-six  States  organized  December  31,  1914, 
the  chairmanship  in  seventeen  was  held  either  by 
the  President  of  the  State  Federation  of  Clubs  or 
by  a  woman  selected  by  and  representing  her.  Of 
thirty-four  States  organized  February  1,  1915, 
twenty-five  chairmanships  of  the  Woman's  Section 
were  thus  held.  The  credit  therefore  for  the  actual 
achievements  and  for  the  contributions  in  money  and 
food  for  these  stricken  people  goes  supremely,  so 
far  as  women  are  concerned,  to  the  State  Federation 
of  Women's  Clubs.  It  is  the  noblest  memorial  that 
could  have  been  erected  to  their  honor. 

In  the  remaining  nine  States  the  chairmanships 
carried  fitting  dignities.  Four  of  these  Chairmen 
were  named  by  the  Governors  upon  their  commit- 
tees of  men.  Three  were  especially  selected  for  the 
Section  by  Governors ;  another,  an  Honorary  Chair- 
man, was  the  wife  of  the  Governor,  who  selected 
also  an  active  Chairman.  On  this  date  of  publication, 
February  26,  thirty-seven  States  are  organized  under 
the  Woman's  Section. 

When  the  State  Chairmanships  were  arranged,  the 
folder  appeals  were  sent  to  all  the  clubs  of  the 
State,  together  with  a  circular  letter,  stating  who 
was  representing  the  Section.  These  folders  had  on 
the  front  page  the  frontispiece  of  "LTllustration" 
with  the  portrait  of  the  Queen  of  the  Belgians,  and 
the  touching  text  beneath  it  by  Roland  de  Mares. 
On  the  second  page  were  the  two  messages,  one 
from  the  Queen  and  the  other  from  the  sister  .of 
the  King,  the  Duchess  of  Vendome,  accepting  places 
as  patronesses  of  the  Section.    These  messages,  well- 


14 


THE  WOMAN'S  SECTION 


ing  out  of  agonized  hearts,  were  so  profoundly  piti- 
ful and  appealing  that  they  told  as  nothing  else  could, 
the  extremity  of  sorrow  and  suffering  in  Belgium. 
The  third  page  had  the  Woman's  Section  personnel 
— Board  and  co-operating  committee.  The  fourth 
and  fifth  pages  had  the  collective  appeal  for  the 
life  of  the  Belgians.  The  sixth,  the  shipping  in- 
structions ;  the  seventh,  the  personnel  of  the  Com- 
mission for  Relief  in  Belgium. 

Into  the  hands  of  each  State  Chairman  was  put  a 
list  of  the  leaders  of  other  Nationals  in  her  State, 
who,  with  the  support  of  their  Presidents,  could  be 
asked  to  help.  From  the  files  were  added  clippings 
on  all  the  detached  Belgian  Relief  movements  in  her 
State,  and  the  names  of  the  Commission  Executives 
with  whom  she  was  asked  always  to  co-operate. 

The  Commission  and  its  Woman's  Section  aimed 
primarily  to  serve  as  a  clearing  house  for  the  States. 
The  organizations  were  asked  to  work  where  their 
influence  and  momentum  were  greatest — at  the 
source,  in  the  home  towns,  to  use  their  funds  in 
conjunction  with  the  Commission's  State  Committees 
and  to  ship  contributions  collectively.  Thus  har- 
mony was  insured  and  economy  in  buying  and  in 
transporting.  The  principle  was  laid  down  that  in 
the  States  where  money  was  contributed  it  should, 
if  possible,  be  spent. 

A  National  movement  carries  something  of  value 
which  local  activity  cannot  inspire.  Its  sweep  of 
sentiment,  its  comradeship,  its  communal  effort,  its 
emulation  in  well-doing— these  are  real  elements. 
Several  of  the  men's  committees  wrote  gratefully 
to  the  Woman's  Section  of  the  help  which  head- 
quarters had  brought  them  in  their  own  States. 

The  intensiveness  of  organization  in  any  State  has 
depended  primarily  upon  the  activities  of  the  two 
Committees,  that  of  the  Commission  and  of  the 
Woman's  Section.    In  several  splendidly  organized 


15 


THE  WOMAN' S  SECTION 


States  each  Mayor  of  a  town  was  asked  to  appoint 
a  committee.  The  local  papers  were  asked  to  in- 
terest their  patrons  and  to  collect  funds.  Pastors 
were  asked  to  preach  from  the  pulpits  on  this  Bel- 
gian tragedy  and  to  allow  contributions  to  be  taken 
in  behalf  of  the  people.  Granges  were  asked  for 
food,  lectures  were  arranged,  and  in  a  very  few 
places,  moving  picture  films  were  made  available. 

The  system  of  seeking  contributions  has  been  vir- 
tually the  same  everywhere — a  direct  appeal.  Clubs 
have  been  asked  to  give  collectively,  or  to  donate 
through  individuals  separately,  as  they  prefer. 

In  some  States,  groups  have  been  asked  to  pledge 
certain  fixed  sums  monthly  until  the  famine  is  over. 
The  Leland  Stanford  University  students  have  a 
fund  of  this  nature.  Elsewhere  in  California  monthly 
sums  have  been  pledged.  The  plan  has  obtained 
more  su'^eisfully  among  schools  than  elsewhere. 
In  one  county  in  New  York  clubs  of  women  have 
been  asked  to  contribute  one  dollar  a  month,  each 
member,  for  six  months. 

The  President  of  a  small  National  organization 
has  asked  each  member  to  contribute  a  can  of  food — 
beans  or  milk  preferably.  In  one  State  all  the  clubs 
have  been  asked  to  contribute  a  certain  number  of 
barrels  of  flour.   In  another  "pounds"  of  food. 

In  a  Southern  town  a  Belgian  day  was  named.  At 
a  certain  hour  whistles  blew,  the  church  bells  rang, 
and  the  women  went  forth  to  collect  money  and 
food  for  the  Belgians. 

In  four  States  there  has  been  a  tag  day;  in  several, 
flag  days. 

The  lunch-room  boxes  have  been  successful,  espe- 
cially in  restaurants.  Some  motto,  "You  are  about 
to  eat,  and  the  Belgians  are  without  food,"  seems 
to  strike  at  the  psychological  moment  when  the  hor- 
rors of  starvation  are  borne  in  upon  them. 


16 


THE  WO  MAN' S  SECTION 


The  chain-letter  system,  which  was  supposed  to  be 
extinct,  was  extremely  successful  in  another  State, 
one  group  collecting  in  about  eleven  days  some 
$2,300. 

Sewing  circles  have  contributed  thousands  of  gar- 
ments. 

In  the  cities  a  double  service  has  been  rendered  by 
securing  material  and  giving  work  to  the  unemployed 
who  make  up  the  garments. 

A  friend  of  the  Belgians  in  Colorado  Springs 
started  a  "thank  offering"  because  she  lacked  not 
food.  She  asked  her  neighbors  to  join  her  thanks- 
giving. Soon  she  left  for  Pasadena  and  continued 
the  work.  From  this  single  friend  the  Woman's 
Section  received,  for  milk  for  the  babies  within 
four  weeks,  $4,690.93.  Next  she  has  started  the 
"Adopt  a  Belgian  Baby  Campaign."  The  adoption  is 
by  proxy  only.  "Two  Dollars  a  Month"  keeps  the 
infant  in  its  own  mother's  care.  The  public  is  in- 
vited to  adopt  a  whole  baby  or  a  fraction  thereof. 
The  idea,  which  surely  is  an  inspiration,  is  finding 
great  favor  in  Southern  California. 

The  food  boxes  are  proving  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar features  of  the  movement.  The  basis  of  their 
possibilities  lies  in  the  transportation  fund  available 
to  the  Commission.  The  Commission  is  Interna- 
tionally constituted  and  has  relation  to  eight  Gov- 
ernments. In  connection  with  these  a  transporta- 
tion fund  has  been  provided.  Arrangements  have 
been  made  with  express  companies  and  with  the 
parcel  post  whereby  packages  of  sizes  to  be  handled 
by  them  can  be  sent  under  Commission  payments. 
It  becomes  easy  therefore  for  persons'  willing  to  con- 
tribute smaller  consignments  to  send  them  along 
"collect."  Through  this  fund  those  relieving  the  Bel- 
gians by  the  agency  of  the  Commission  can  have 
all  their  money  represented  in  food  itself. 


17 


THE  WOMAN'S  SECTION 


Circles  of  Mercy  have  been  very  successfully  em- 
ployed in  Kingston,  N.  Y. 

The  Woman's  Section  in  Minneapolis  organized 
a  great  Municipal  Ball  with  "Belgian  Sunday"  fol- 
lowing. They  wired  to  headquarters  for  4,000  mite 
boxes. 

The  "penny  a  day"  or  "five  cents  a  week"  con- 
tribution from  school  children  is  a  feature  of  the 
New  York  State  campaign. 

Concerts,  dances,  silver  teas,  raffles  and  many 
other  varieties  of  social  affairs  have  been  given. 
Artists  have  contributed  pictures,  authors  books  to 
be  sold  in  behalf  of  the  Belgians. 

Two  large  life-like  dolls  were  installed  in  the 
window  of  a  prominent  shop  in  Pasadena.  One — 
warmed  only  by  its  nether  garment — held  in  its  ex- 
tended hands  a  placard — "I  am  freezing  and  starv- 
ing." The  other  reached  to  it,  food  and  clothes. 
These  two  dolls  drew  large  contributions  in  behalf 
of  the  children  of  Belgium. 

Bambino  cards  and  calendars  have  been  circulated. 

The  exclusive  feature  of  the  Commission  is  the 
bread-line  ticket.  These  are  memorials  of  the 
famine,  straight  from  the  front.  They  are  the  food- 
cards which  are  stamped  or  punched  for  each  dis- 
tribution. They  give  the  name  of  the  recipient  and 
the  number  registered  in  the  family  and  supplied 
from  this  ticket.  Several  have  blanks  representing 
days  when  the  Commission  could  not  supply  food 
and  the  people  all — men,  women  and  children — went 
foodless.  When  one  recalls  that  upon  feeding  day 
the  ration  is  less  than  one-quarter  of  that  consumed 
by  the  average  American,  the  suffering  of  foodless 
days  can  be  imagined. 

The  spirit  of  humanity  and  generosity  was  so  uni- 
versally shown  that  one  cannot  name  one  State  with- 
out recalling  that  each  other  State  had  a  distinctive 
something  calling  for  just  as  hearty  mention.  The 


IS 


THE  WOMAN'S  SECTION 


want  of  space  alone  hinders  here  what  certainly 
shall  be  recorded  in  the  final  history  of  the  Com- 
mission— the  pean  of  the  State  achievements  in  be- 
half of  the  dying  Belgians.  How  many  beautiful 
incidents  will  be  reflected  can  be  surmised  from 
the  story  of  one — the  first  into  the  held — lion- 
hearted  California.  Their  pride,  their  money  anc 
their  hope  were  centered  in  their  Panama  Exposition; 
this  which  was  to  celebrate  the  freeing  of  their 
coast,  and  the  greatest  engineering  triumph  in  the 
world's  history.  They  wanted  one  special  building 
and  the  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  in  sight 
Then  came  the  disaster  in  Belgium  and  the  call  foi 
help.  They  recalled  the  earthquake.  They  under- 
stood horrors,  they  had  had  tragedies ;  they  remem- 
bered the  rush  of  the  world  to  relieve  them.  With- 
out a  look  backward,  they  jumped  into  the  rescue. 
Before  certain  other  States  realized  what  was  going 
on  in  Belgium,  a  California  ship  loaded  with  food 
had  sailed  away  for  the  new  route  and  succor  to 
the  people.  Later,  when  the  disaster  was  becoming 
worse,  the  Commission  appealed  anew  to  California 
At  first  the  way  was  not  clear  to  compass  more,  bul 
there  was  no  wavering.  They  set  strong  shoulders 
against  the  problem,  the  adjacent  States  rallied  tc 
the  common  task,  and  today  a  second  California 
shipload — the  third  from  the  Coast,  is  secured  foi 
the  people  hemmed  in  behind  the  wall  of  steel.  Kan- 
sas— regal  Kansas,  and  Iowa — wonderful  Iowa, 
and  Minnesota  and  Ohio— the  whole  central  tier, 
how  they  answered !  Nebraska  with  her  cargo  of 
corn,  and  Illinois,  latest  come,  promising  to  surpass 
them  all !  Then  Oregon  and  Washington  with  theii 
memorable  ship,  and  Idaho  helping — Idaho,  with 
our  devoted  little  Wallace!  Wallace  and  Tacoma 
lie  warm  against  the  heart  of  the  Woman's  Section 
And  the  poor  cotton-stricken  South !  The  South 
was  more  wonderful  than  any  other  section,  because 


19 


THE  WO  MAN' S  SECTION 


it  gave  out  of  such  dire  need  of  its  own.  Maryland 
and  Virginia  with  festal  ships,  and  brave  Roanoke 
sitting  it  out  with  her  pledge !  Then  Louisiana  and 
Alabama — what  superb  spirit  and  what  heartiness ! 
And  Arkansas,  dear  Arkansas !  How  tenderly  the 
Woman's  Section  remembers  it !  They  told  of  their 
cotton,  of  their  closed  mills  and  the  unemployment, 
and  the  easy,  improvident  colored  brother  whom 
they  must  tide  along.  But  not  for  anything  would 
Arkansas  fail  Belgium,  or  be  missing  from  a  Na- 
tional appeal.  It  was  the  same  story  throughout  the 
South  everywhere.  No  letters  so  warmed  the  heart 
of  the  Chairman  as  those  from  her  Southern  lieu- 
tenants. 

The  loaded  cars  will  gather  to  many  centers,  and 
the  ships  from  the  States  will  pass  from  many  ports. 
On  the  mission  of  rescue  their  mercy-cargoes  sail. 
The  White  Fleet  speeds  with  the  glad,  grateful,  bless- 
ing of  the  Woman's  Section. 


20 


THE  WOMAN'  S  SECTION 


The  Woman's  Section 
of 

The  Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium 

Mrs.  Lindon  Bates,  Chairman  Miss  Anne  Morgan,  Treasurer 

Mrs.  August  Belmont  Mrs.  William  K.  Vanderbilt 

Mrs.  Edward  R.  Hewitt  Miss  Maude  Wetmore 

Miss  Mary  Parsons  Miss  Grace  Cotton,  Secretary 

EXECUTIVE  CO-OPERATING  COMMITTEE 

Presidents  of  International  and  National  Organizations 

Mrs.  Kate  Waller  Barrett  National  Council  of  Women 

Mrs.  Carrie  Chapman  Catt, 

International  Woman's  Suffrage  Alliance 
Mrs.  Truman  H.  Newberry ....  Needlework  Guild  of  America 

Mrs.  Frederic  Schoff  Congress  of  Mothers 

Mrs.  Wm.  Cumming  Story, 

Daughters  of  American  Revolution 
Miss  Frances  W.  Sibley.  .Girls'  Friendly  Society  in  America 
Mrs.  Mary  Boomer  Page.  . International  Kindergarten  Union 
Miss  Caroline  L.  Humphrey  .Association  of  Collegiate  Alumna 
Mrs.  Henry  Olesheimer, 

National   Federation  of   Women  Workers 
Miss  Maude  Wetmore,  Chairman, 

National  Civic  Federation,  Woman's  Department 
Mrs.  Joseph  M.  Strout, 

Woman's  National  Rivers  and  Harbors  Congress 
Mrs.  Wm.   O.  Thompson, 

National  Federation  of  College  Women 
Mrs.  Henry  C.  Coe. National  Society  of  New  England  Women 
Miss  Anna  A.  Gordon.  . National  Woman's  Temperance  Union 
Mrs.  John  W.  Stewart, 

National  Plant,  Flower  and  Fruit  Guild 
Mrs.  Arthur  M.  Dodge, 

National  Association  Opposed  to  Woman  Suffrage 

Miss  Julia  Chester  Wells  Daughters  of  the  Cincinnati 

Rev.  Anna  H.  Shaw, 

National  American  Woman  Suffrage  Association 

Mrs.  Clarence  L.  Bleakley  Daughters  of  the  Revolution 

Mrs.  Nathaniel  E.  Harris, 

National  Council  of  Jewish  Women 
Mrs.  Teresa  M.  Molanthy,  Woman's  Section  of  the 

National  Conference  of  Catholic  Charities 


21 


THE  WOMAN'S  SECTION 
executive;  co-operating  committee 
Presidents  of  State  Federations  of  Woman's  Clubs 

Mrs.  I.  J.   Haley  Alabama 

Mrs.  John   I.    Moore  Arkansas 

Mrs.  Lillian  Pray-Palmer   California 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Reynolds  Delaware 

Mrs.  Ellis  Logan  District  of  Columbia 

Mrs.  W.   S.  Jennings  Florida 

Mrs.  Z.   I.   Fitzpatrick  Georgia 

Mrs.  Benj.    B.    Clark  Iowa 

Mrs.  C.    B.   Walker  Kansas 

Mrs.  Frederick    P.    Abbott  Maine 

Mrs.  Edward   C.   Wilson  Maryland 

Mrs.  R.    H.    Ashbaugh  Michigan 

Mrs.  J.   J.    McGrath  Mississippi 

Mrs.  W.    R.    Chivvis  Missouri 

Mrs.  Tylar    B.    Thompson  Montana 

Mrs.  C.    P.    Squires  Nevada 

Mrs.  Wm.   T.    Ropes  New  Jersey 

Mrs.  Rupert  F.  Asplund  New  Mexico 

Mrs.  Albert   H.   Hildreth  New  York 

Mrs.  Tom   Hope   Oklahoma 

Mrs.  Samuel   Semple   Pennsylvania 

Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Congdon  Rhode  Island 

Mrs.  J.  W.  Allen  South  Carolina 

Mrs.  Zillah  E.  Wilson  South  Dakota 

Mrs.  Henry    B.    Fall  Texas 

Mrs.  Emeline    B.    Wells  Utah 

Mrs.  Geo.    H.   Smilie  Vermont 

Mrs.  M.   M.  Caldwell  Virginia 

Mrs.  R.  L.  Hutchinson  West  Virginia 

Mrs.  R.    A.    Morton  Wyoming 

Presidents  of  City  Oiganizations 

y  Mrs.  James  S.  Cushman, 

Young  Women's  Christian  Association  of  New  York 

22 


THE  WOMAN'S  SECTION 

STATE  CHAIRMEN 
Mrs.  Cyrus  P.  Orr,  2704  Highland  Ave.,  Birmingham, 

Alabama 

Mrs.  John   I.    Moore,    Helena  Arkansas 

Mrs.  William  H.  Crocker,  Crocker  National  Bank, 

San    Francisco,  California 

Mrs.  S.  J.  Reynolds,  Smyrna  Delaware 

Mrs.  W.  S.  Jennings,  Jacksonville  Florida 

Mrs.  Z.  1.   Fitzpatrick,   Tliomasville  Georgia 

Mrs.  H.    R.  Allen,    Wallace  Idaho 

Mrs.  H.   W.  Spaulding,  Grinnell  Iowa 

Mrs.  C.  B.  Walker,  Norton  Kansas 

Mrs.  Luther  E.  Hall  (Honorary),  New  Orleans.  .  .Louisiana 
Mrs.  Frederick  W.  Parham,  1429  Seventh  St.,  New 

Orleans,  Louisiana 

Mrs.  Frederick  P.  Abbott,  Saco  Maine 

Mrs.  Edward  C.  Wilson,  Bellona  Ave.,  Govans.  ...  Maryland 
Mrs.  David  O.  Mears,  3  Fuller  Place,  Cambridge, 

Massachusetts 

Mrs.  R.  H.  Ashbaugh,  43  Boston  Boulevard,  Detroit, 

Michigan 

Mrs.  Cassius  M.  Ferguson,  124  East  13th  St., 

Minneapolis,  Minnesota 

Mrs.  J.  J.  McGrath,  Canton  Mississippi 

Mrs.  W.  R.  Chivvis,  4232   West  Pine  Boulevard,  St. 

Louis,  Missouri 

Mrs.  Tylar  B.  Thompson,  Missoula  Montana 

Mrs.  W.   G.  Langworthy-Taylor,  435  North  25th  St., 

Lincoln,  Nebraska 

Mrs.  C.  P.  Squires,  Las  Vegas  Nevada 

Mrs.  Wm.  T.  Roper,  19  Gates  Ave.,  Montclair.  .New  Jersey 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Nutter,  Clovis  New  Mexico 

Mrs.  Albert   H.    Hildreth,    752    Comstock  Ave., 

Syracuse,   New  York 
Mrs.  Wm.  O.  Thompson,  Ohio  State  University, 

Columbus,  Ohio 

Mrs.  Tom  Hope,  530  East  10th  St.,  Ada  Oklahoma 

Miss  Henrietta  E.   Failing,   Portland  Oregon 

Mrs.  Samuel    Semple,    Titusville  Pennsylvania 

Miss  Jane  B.  Evans,  Florence  South  Carolina 

Mrs.    J.    E.    Bird,    Watertown  South  Dakota 

Mrs.  Henry  B.  Fall,  Houston  Texas 

Mrs.  Arthur  E.  Raze,  Earlham  Court,  Tacoma. ..  Washington 
Mrs.  R.  L.  Hutchinson,  1509  6th  Ave.,  Huntington, 

West  Virginia 
Mrs.  W.  W.  Coleman,  323  Juneau  Ave.,  Milwaukee, 

Wisconsin 

Mrs.  Archie   Allison,   Cheyenne  Wyoming 

23 


The      Commission  for 


Relief      in  Belgium 

71  Broadway,  New  York 

American  Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium 
Spanish  Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium 
Italian  Commission  for  Relief  in  Belgium 
Comite  National  de  Secours  et  D' Alimentation 

Honorary  Chairmen 

His  Excellency  Walter  Hines  Page 

The  American  Ambassador  in  London 

His  Excellency  James  Gerard 
The  American  Ambassador  in  Berlin 
His  Excellency  William  G.  Sharp 
The  American  Ambassador  in  Paris 
His  Excellency 
Senor  Don  Alfonso  Merry  Del  Val  Y  Zulueta 
The  Spanish  Ambassador  in  London 
His  Excellency  Le  Marquis  de  Villalobar 
The  Spanish  Minister  in  Brussels 

His  Excellency  Brand  Whitloclc 
The  American  Minister  in  Brussels 
His  Excellency  Henry  Van  Dyke 
The  American  Minister  in  The  Hague 

Executive  Officer — London 

Herbert  C.  Hoover,  Chairman 
Executive  Officers — New  York 

Lindon  W.Bates,  Vice-Chairman 
Robert  D.  McCarter,  Hon.  Secretary 

The  Woman's  Section 

No.  I  Madison  Avenue,  New  York 
Mis.  Lindon  Bates,  Chairman 
Miss  Anne  Morgan,  Treasurer 
Mrs.  August  Belmont         Miss  Mary  Parsons 
Mrs.  Edward  R.  Hewitt    Mrs  William  K.  Vanderbilt 
Miss  Maude  Wetmore 

Auditors  and  Accountants 

Deloitte,  Plender,  Griffiths  &  Co. 
New  York  and  London 

Bankers 

National  City  Bank 
55  Wall  Street,  New  York 
Guaranty  Trust  Co 
140  Broadway.  New  York 


